For the second year, the NC/SC Border Battle was one of the most anticipated events of the summer.  This year saw the event moved to BB&T Point Stadium in High Point, NC, home of the High Point Rockers Independent Professional club.  Hosted at Winthrop in 2019, the 2020 event was suppose to be at UNC Charlotte, but moved to High Point with the ongoing NCAA Dead Period on recruiting. 

With the move, the event saw more of a North Carolina flavor as most players and families are still working to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 issues.  Due to the NCAA Dead Period, the event was live streamed utilizing multiple camera angles to allow college coaches to view from their offices. 

Position players were taken through a full pro-style workout, with a laser timed 60, full offensive workout, and a full defensive workout.  The pro-style workout was followed by a controlled scrimmage with pitchers throwing to live hitters.  PBR Scouts were on hand to evaluate and report on the players in attendance.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and statistics from the 2020 NC/SC Border Battle

 

By the Numbers:

• 73 players were a part of the NC/SC Border Battle
• 61  players went through the pro-style workout
• 28 pitchers threw in the controlled scrimmages
• 92 mph was the top fastball thrown on the day
• 8 arms worked at 87 mph or higher
• 84 mph was the median fastball for the event
• 4 players ran sub-7.00 on the laser timer
• 23 players ran sub-7.20 sixties
• 14 position players posted a positional velocity of 85 mph or higher in their workout
• 90 mph was the top infield velocity
• 91 mph was the top outfield velocity
• 86 mph was the top catcher velocity, working out of the crouch
• 2 hitters posted an exit velocity of 100+ mph off the tee
• 22 hitters worked at 90 mph or higher off the tee with their exit velocity
• 8 hitters posted exit velocities of 88 mph or higher in live BP

 

Middle INFIELDERS

 

 

 

Jacob Pennell 2B / OF / Oak Grove, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 195 / POS: 5 Positional Profile: 2B/OF. Body: 5/11, 145 pounds. Thin, lanky frame. Defense: Athletic, loose body, catches the ball near center, low hips at the catch point, above average hands, clean transitions. Arm: R. INF - 82 mph.  Accurate, loose arm, high 3/4 slot. Hit: L. Open, narrow base, hands at back shoulder. Average stride, hands load back. Quick hands, uphill swing path, works middle to his pull side, better than average barrel feel. Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average to above average bat speed, numbers should jump with added strength. Run:7.31 runner in the 60.

 

 

Tate Mickey 2B / SS / Corinth Holders , NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 187 / POS: 3   Positional Profile: 2B/SS. Body: 5/9, 160 pounds. Strong build. Defense: Fluid actions, soft hands, funnels to the midsection, quick release. Arm: R. INF - 76 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, feel for using different arm slots. Hit: R. Open base, hands start below back shoulder. Average stride back to even, hands load up and back. Short to ball, barrel is uphill through the zone, middle of the field approach. Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average to above average bat speed. Run:7.14 runner in the 60.

 

 

Joey Bouck SS / 2B / Cardinal Gibbons , NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 79 / POS: 17   Christopher Newport commit Positional Profile: SS/2B. Body: 5/10, 155 pounds. Athletic frame, room to add strength ahead. Defense: Relaxed and athletic, feet work around the ball, catches the ball near center, soft hands, funnels to the belt, clean transitions. Arm: R. INF - 80 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Hit: L. Balanced, slightly open base, hands at back shoulder. Smooth load, average stide into the plate, hands get set. Fluid, loose stroke, barrel stays through the zone, has barrel feel lining balls to both gaps. Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Above average bat speed. Run:7.13 runner in the 60.

 

 

Chase Caristo SS / 2B / Apex, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 175 / POS: 36 Belmont Abbey commit Positional Profile: SS/2B. Body: 5/9, 165 pounds. Athletic, room to add strength. Defense: Athletic, quick feet, better than average hands, clean transfers. Arm: R. INF - 75 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, feel for using different arm angles. Hit: R. Balanced, even base, barrel flat over back shoulder. Simple load, short stride, quiet barrel. Quick hands, barrel is short to ball, level through the zone, middle of the field approach. Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Barrel has quickness through the zone. Run:7.18 runner in the 60.

 

 

William Gray SS / 3B / Mount Pleasant, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 170 / POS: 33   Positional Profile: SS/2B. Body: 5/11, 175 pounds. Athletic build. Defense: Athletic, quick feet, above average hands, clean exchanges. Arm: R. INF - 78 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, feel for using different arm slots. Hit: R. Relaxed, tall, narrow base, hands just below back shoulder. Short stride, hands load back. Quick hands, barrel stays through the zone, gets extension out front, works middle to his pull side, above average barrel feel. Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Barreled two balls to left against live pitching, has strength with above average bat speed. Run:7.15 runner in the 60.

 

 

Payton Martin SS / 2B / West Forsyth, NC / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 106 / POS: 14   Positional Profile: SS/2B. Body: 6/1, 150 pounds. Thin, athletic frame. Defense: Relaxed, athletic, solid actions, catches the ball near center, soft hands, funnels to the belt, easy transitions. Arm: R. INF - 86 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Hit: R. Balanced, slightly open, hands just above back shoulder. Weight loads against back leg, average stride, hands work down and back. Quick hands, barrel has some lift through the zone, lined balls through the middle of the field. Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Barreled two balls to the left side in game action, average to above average bat speed. Run:7.56 runner in the 60.

 

 

Andrew Stephens SS / 2B / Southwest Guilford, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 207 / POS: 43   Positional Profile: SS/2B. Body: 5/9, 165 pounds. Strong frame. Defense: Quick feet, catches the ball near center, relaxed hands, clean transfers. Arm: R. INF - 77 mph.  Accurate, medium arm stoke, high 3/4 slot. Hit: L. Balanced, even base, hands at back shoulder. Medium length stride, hands load back. Flat stroke, barrel gets extension out front, some quickness to the hands, gap to gap approach with barrel feel. Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Barreled a ball to center for a hit, lined a ball to short, average to above average bat speed. Run:7.42 runner in the 60.

 

 

Wesley Stewart SS / 2B / North Davidson, NC / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 178 / POS: 30 Positional Profile: SS/2B. Body: 5/10, 150 pounds. Athletic build, room to add strength. Defense: Fundamentally sounds, catches the ball in the center of his body, soft hands, funnels to the belt, clean transfers. Arm: R. INF - 73 mph.  Accurate, compact arm action, high 3/4 slot. Hit: R. Even, athletic base, hands above back shoulder. Weight loads back, short stride, quiet hands. Direct barrel path, stays through the zone, quick hands, middle of the field approach, above average barrel awareness. Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Barrel has quickness through the zone. Run:7.35 runner in the 60.

 

 

Jack Boyles SS / 3B / Heritage, NC / 2022 Positional Profile: SS/3B. Body: 6/1, 180 pounds. Athletic build. Defense: Plays relaxed with rhythm, hands are soft, easy transitions, played solid defense in game action. Arm: R. INF - 81 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, feel for using different arm angles. Hit: R. Balanced, even base, hands just above back shoulder. Weight goes back, short stride, small hand load. Barrel stays inside the ball, gets extension out front, some quickness to the hands, line drive approach using the whole field. Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Barreled a ball to left field in game action, average to above average bat speed. Run:7.19 runner in the 60.

 

 

Clay Clinard SS / 3B / Clayton, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 124 / POS: 27   Positional Profile: SS/3B. Body: 6/1, 185 pounds. Strong, athletic build. Defense: Plays relaxed, fluid actions, above average hands, clean exchanges at the belt. Arm: R. INF - 82 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Hit: R. Slightly open, athletic base, hands at back shoulder, vertical barrel. Short stride, small hand load. Quick hands, barrel is short to the ball, stays through the middle of the field with better than average barrel feel. Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Above average bat speed, hard contact on a ball to right in game action. Run:7.46 runner in the 60.

 

 

Connor Miller SS / 3B / Charlotte Country Day , NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 168 / POS: 32 Positional Profile: SS/3B. Body: 6/1/2000, 185 pounds. Strong frame. Defense: Active feet, catches the ball left of center, better than average hands, clean transfers. Arm: R. INF - 81 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Hit: R. Even base, sits in legs with slightly more weight on the back leg, barrel above back shoulder. No stride, small hand load. Barrel is short to the ball, some quickness to the hands, middle of the field approach with better than average barrel feel. Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average bat speed. Run:7.24 runner in the 60.

 

 

Cooper Wilson SS / 3B / South Mecklenburg, NC / 2021   Positional Profile: SS/3B. Body: 5/11, 165 pounds. Strong build. Defense: Solid actions, fluid feet, catches the ball in the center of his body, relaxed hands, funnels to the midsection, clean transitions. Arm: R. INF - 75 mph.  Accurate, short arm action, 3/4 slot. Hit: R. Relaxed, slightly open base, barrel flat above back shoulder. Smooth load, short stride, quiet hands. Short to ball, slightly uphill barrel path through the zone, hands have quickness, uses the whole field. Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Average to above average bat speed. Run:7.26 runner in the 60.

 

 

Isaac Garner SS / OF / St Paul's, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 208 / POS: 44 Positional Profile: SS/OF. Body: 5/8, 150 pounds. Lanky, athletic frame. Defense: OF-Athletic through the ball, catches the ball in front of his left foot, relaxed hands, clean exchanges. IF-Solid actions, fluid feet, soft hands, funnels to the belt, quick, clean transfers. Arm: R. INF - 79 mph. OF - 87 mph. OF-Accurate, some carry, loose quick arm through a high 3/4 slot. IF-Accurate, feel for different arm angles. Hit: R. Tall, slightly open, narrow base, hands at back shoulder. Short stride, hands load back. Loose swing, quick hands, barrel stays through the ball, middle to pull approach. Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Above average bat speed, barreled a ball to the right side in game action. Run:7.21 runner in the 60.

 

 

Matt Heavner SS / OF / North Lincoln, NC / 2022 Rankings  StateRank: 20 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 199 / POS: 45   NC State commit Positional Profile: SS/OF. Body: 5/10, 155 pounds. Thin, athletic frame, room to add strength. Defense: Advanced defender, plays with ease, stays in rhythm, soft hands, easy transitions. Arm: R. INF - 84 mph.  Accurate, quick arm, high 3/4 slot. Hit: R. Even, athletic base, barrel flat over back shoulder. Simple load, short stride, quiet barrel. Mature approach, balanced, quick hands, direct barrel path, stays through the zone a long time, lots of barrel feel working to both gaps. Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.  Loose with above average bat speed. Run:7.56 runner in the 60.